Compare towns
Au Sable vs Gorham vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Au Sable has the most affordable homes ($133k median).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Colchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Au Sable | Gorham | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,156Lowest |
4,093 |
17,648Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±8 17% above U.S. |
48.7±8.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.3±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Au Sable and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,069±$36k 18% above U.S. |
$64,874±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Colchester and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,000±$43kLowest 60% below U.S. |
$263,300±$27k 21% below U.S. |
$394,400±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$328Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,165±$208 18% below U.S. |
$1,474±$122Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Colchester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,242Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,497 12% above U.S. |
$5,471Highest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.2%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Colchester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 484 in NY | #246 of 484 in NY | #18 of 70 in VT |
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | Colchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.2Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.